New York City
Llana is known for his roles in Broadway’s ”Spelling Bee” and the Public Theater’s ”Here Lies Love”.
Lincoln Center Theater has welcomed a new King to its Tony-winning Broadway production of The King and I. Jose Llana stepped into the role on July 14, replacing Tony nominee Ken Watanabe, who departed the company on July 12.
Llana was last seen onstage in Here Lies Love as Ferdinand Marcos, a role in which he played opposite The King and I's Tony-winning Ruthie Ann Miles, who played Imelda Marcos. Llana is set for an 11-week engagement, through September 27.
Directed by Bartlett Sher, The King and I also stars Kelli O'Hara in her 2015 Tony Award-winning performance as Anna Leonowens. The 48-member company also includes Ashley Park as Tuptim, Conrad Ricamora as Lun Tha, Edward Baker-Duly as Sir Edward Ramsey, Jon Viktor Corpuz as Prince Chulalongkorn, Murphy Guyer as Captain Orton, Jake Lucas as Louis, Paul Nakauchi as Kralahome, Marc Oka as Phra Alack, and Betsy Morgan (standby for Kelli O'Hara).
As previously announced, Hoon Lee, the star of the Cinemax television series Banshee who was last seen on Broadway in the 2004 revival of Pacific Overtures, will take over for Llana beginning September 29.
The King and I features sets by Michael Yeargan, costumes by Catherine Zuber, lights by Donald Holder (all three nominated for 2015 Tony Awards), and sound by Scott Lehrer (2015 Drama Desk Award nomination). The production, which features an orchestra of 29 conducted by music director Ted Sperling, is performed with the musical's original 1951 orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett and dance and incidental music arranged by Trude Rittmann.
For tickets to The King and I, click here.